The Mayor of Newton Is Considering Proposals to Deal with an Unsafe

question 153

Essay

The mayor of Newton is considering proposals to deal with an unsafe intersection. She could install a traffic light at a cost of $50,000 or she could install stop signs at a cost of $5,000. The traffic light is expected to reduce the risk of fatality by 0.45 percent and the stop signs are expected to reduce the risk of fatality by 0.054 percent. If the value of human life is estimated to be $10 million, what choice should the mayor make? Briefly explain.

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Definitions:

Paleolithic Cave

Prehistoric caves inhabited or used by early humans, notable for containing some of the earliest known cave paintings and artifacts.

Creation Myth

A symbolic narrative of how the world and its inhabitants came to be, varying widely across cultures, religions, and societies.

Survival

The act of continuing to live or exist, especially in spite of challenging conditions or circumstances.

Göbekli Tepe

Göbekli Tepe is an archaeological site in southeastern Turkey, dating back to the 10th millennium BCE, renowned for its monumental circular and rectangular megalithic structures.